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I've been having some honest moments with myself over the last month or so and have found them to be very therapeutic. By honest moments I just mean I've tried to put away the bullshit and really tune into how Darby is doing and what I'm really all about.

Choosing the right kind of olive oil or coconut oil an be really hard, even for those of us that are in the know! For instance, what is expeller pressed olive oil vs extra virgin? Why would I need virgin coconut oil vs. organic? Should my olive oil be unrefined? These words add up to a lot of confusion, so I'm here to help you sort it all out and make the most informed decision that you can next time you're at the store.

I've picked up a lot of self-care tips and vibes over the years as a health and wellness coach. I've tried everything from crystal healing therapy to hypnosis and even attempted a 3-day fat fast (major fail). I really love to use my body to experiment with different self care rituals, ways of eating and therapies to see what works for me. I'm fascinated with the body and everything that it's capable of so I'm always looking for healthy, new and improved ways to get the very best out of my body. Over the years, I've come to truly fall in love with 4 alternative, or some of you may see them as crazy, therapies that help me recover fast, think more clearly and creatively and overall live a happier life!

Rest and rejuvenation seem to be lost words these days. Many of us work constantly, whether that is in an office, a classroom, as a new mother or simply because our phones are constantly in our hands. We are stretching ourselves thin while still trying to exercise, have a social life and remain somewhat sane.

Adapta-what? Yes, I said the same thing when I first heard about adaptogenic herbs, but don't let the name scare you! Adaptogens are a unique class of plants that help your body adapt to biological and psychological stress by making it easier to balance your hormones. Adaptogens have been shown to help decrease cortisol, increase energy and mental focus and also help you recover faster from your workouts.

I'm not one for labels. My diet is ever changing, just like my body. The one rule that I do stick to, as often as possible, is eating food that is whole and unprocessed. In that light, my body has been trying to tell me for a couple of months now, that it's time for a bit of a change. As noted in my previous blog post, that started with me giving up coffee, but that's not the only thing that's changed.

Those of you that are regular readers of my blog know that I've attempted to remove coffee from my life several times. I hit 8 weeks sans coffee about a year and a half ago before a big trip to Hawaii and then also swore off the stuff for about two weeks to kick off my 10 Day Refresh. More recently, I got pretty serious about my relationship with coffee and decided it was time to officially say goodbye.

Salt is vital for life. You simply cannot live without it. Yet, over the years, salt has been given a bad name due to it being excessively processed and altered. AKA table salt. Today, I'm going to talk about the major differences between common table salt and himalayan pink salt. One, has extremely negative side effects while the other is vital for energy, hydration and high performance.

I come from a family of entrepreneurs. My father is an entrepreneur in the motorcycle industry, my mother had her own successful interior design company and my father-in-law has started multiple tech companies here in the valley. You could say that entrepreneurship runs in my blood.

There is a lot of confusion out there about fat and I know that many of my clients still hold onto old pieces of information that keep them from reaping the benefits of a high, healthy fat diet. One of the questions that I was asked on the Mint Instagram last week was about using Earth Balance butter instead of regular butter as a way to cut back on fat and calories. So, this week, I'm going to walk you through healthy fats, which ones you should be eating and which ones to stay away from. When you select the right fats and add them to your diet they can help you get lean, feel energized and look vibrant!

Valentine's Day is tomorrow which probably means a little bit more indulgence in champagne and chocolate. Trust me, I'll be indulging myself but starting Wednesday, I'm kicking sugar for a while! You've heard me say it here before, but sugar is a tricky little monster. However, when you are free from sugar cravings, you'll notice an immense difference in your energy levels, sleep, brain power, weight, anxiety and so much more. Today, I want to talk about how the right approach can help silence those sugar cravings and make it easy to resist that after dinner cookie.

If you want to cut sugar out of your diet, the best way to do that is to read labels and look for sugar in the ingredient list. Now, if looking for the word sugar in an ingredient list were all we needed to do to avoid the stuff, it wouldn't be so hard! Unfortunately, sugar goes by over 50 different names, and whether it's plain sugar, dextrose, evaporated cane sugar or brown sugar your body treats it all pretty much the same. Use this handy list next time you're shopping or to just get familiar with all of the different names for sugar.

I LOVE football. I didn't grow up watching the sport, my family was more into swimming and water polo, but once I hit college, I was hooked. I actually took a decal when I was at Berkeley that was allll about football. I got an A, so you can just call me an expert :) But, I will say, Super Bowl food nearly rivals the game itself. So, this year, I've got 4 fabulous recipes for you that are also healthy! Enjoy!

I remember about 7 years ago when my then boyfriend, now husband Brett, blended butter into his coffee. I just about fell on the floor. What on earth was he doing, and why? At the time, I was still in college and on the sorority girl diet of low fat froyo and cheap vodka. Super healthy, right? So the idea that high calorie foods like grass-fed butter, coconut oil and avocados were good for me was not on my radar, at all.

It doesn't take much effort at all to get into a routine that involves lululemons, wine and Housewives at the end of your evening. Yes, it's relaxing and I absolutely indulge in this every once in a while, but today, I want to talk about changing things up. Let's talk about the importance of putting yourself out there, getting uncomfortable and doing something new and different that totally scares you.

I have to admit, anxiety is something that I've struggled with for many years now, but I try to look at it like a blessing, rather than a negative. Anxiety has taught me the power of slowing down, being present and focusing on what's truly important.

This week's wellness Wednesday post for my girls over at Mint Studios is all about getting that protein in to rev up your morning. Try out one of these fabulous recipes so that you can hit the ground running this week!

It's 11PM on January 2nd and I've already failed my New Years "diet" challenge.

As many of you know, I'm really not into diets, or crazy fad juice cleanses given that I know they don't work and normally you just end up worse off than you started, But, I am really into challenges and methods of eating that push my body as well as my mind. What do I mean by this?

I'm a huge fan of adaptogens. I first heard about them on Dave Asprey's Bulletproof podcast and have been hooked ever since. Adaptogens have been used for hundreds of years in Chinese medicine and have played an important role in helping me manage my anxiety and fatigue.